3rd Annual KO PROPO Grand Prix

2005 KO PROPO Grand Prix

The 3rd Annual KO PROPO Grand Prix is once
again being held at the Tamiya America's world class racing facility in Aliso
Viejo California. The permanent facility is home of the TCS Championship Series,
the Reedy Touring Car Race of Champions and now the KO PROPO GP.
The number one reason for the KO PROPO GP is for the racers to have fun while
enjoying the many fine products that KO PROPO produces for the R/C racing market.
KO PROPO produces leading radio and speed controls that have lead many top drivers
to some of the most prestigious championships. The classes that will be on racing
display include Open Touring Car Modified, Open19 Turn Spec and new for this
year the Tamiya Formula F201 class. We invite any R/C enthusiast or racing fan
to come check out the action as some of the best local talent will race against
each other in this purpose designed fun event. Not only will there be two days
of racing action, but KO PROPO will be on hand showing off some of their new
product including their now famous KONDO computer controlled servo robot! If
you're in the Aliso Viejo area during June 25th and 26th come on by and see
for yourself what fun racing R/C cars can be.
The leading R/C companies are sponsoring the event. They include Tamiya,
Associated Electric, Team Losi, Yokomo, X-Ray, Team Corally USA and Honda Performance
Products.
For more information regarding this event and to see the many fine products
that KO PROPO produces that go well with any Tamiya R/C car or any other for
that matter please visit http://www.kopropo.com/KO_GP.htm

Autoscore Final results

Race Summary

The 3rd annual KO Propo Grand Prix showcased three categories of on-road R/C racing. They were Formula One, Spec 19T Touring Car and Open Modified Touring Car. As in past years, the racing was highly competitive with the single fastest of four qualifying rounds to determine a place in the finals and the top ten would fight for the title via the triple A-main format. This year, two out of the three class winners were determined only after the last round!

The Tamiya F201 chassis was the spec chassis used for the Formula One class and the racers that had entered also frequent the very exciting TCS series as well as the SpeedTech RC F-1 series. Tony Phalen, Steve Wang, Richard Smith and George Canare were among the favorites to win this year. When qualifying was over, it was TCS regional winner George Canare taking TQ with his Tamiya BMW Williams F-1 car in the fourth and final qualifier. The finals proved equally exciting with an amazing display of driving as Canare, Phalen, Wang and Smith swapped positions for most of the race. In the end, it was George Canare who eventually took the win and backed it up with another victory in the second A-final to take the overall win in the F-1 class.

1st GEORGE CANARE

2nd TONY PHALEN

3rd STEVE WANG

4th RICHARD SMITH

5th MARK CARREON

6th DENNIS LYMAN

7th TERRENCE COLE

8th FRAN MCQUILLAN

9th ARTHUR VALBUENA

10th IZZY SUAREZ

In the 19T spec class, Corey Lewis, Kyle Bergstrom, Eric Rodriguez, Jason Ertrachter and last years winner Fred Medel, were the usual suspects to watch. However, qualifying was dominated by Cory Lewis with a consistent group of runs earning him the TQ spot. This would carry on to the first final in which Lewis got out to an early lead and just cruised while Medel, Rodriguez and Schuur fought for second, third and fourth. Things didn’t go well for Lewis and Medel in the second round with both drivers failing to finish allowing Rodriguez taking the win. This would open the door for Rodriguez going in to the third and final round but Lewis would not be denied. A battle between Lewis and Ertrachter spanned the entire five minutes with Lewis making the pass in the closing stages of the race giving him two wins for the overall 19T victory.

1st COREY LEWIS

2nd ERIK RODRIGUEZ

3rd KYLE BERGSTROM

4th JASON ERTRACHTER

5th FRED MEDEL

6th RON SCHUUR

7th JUAN AVEYTIA

8th IAN AQUINO

9th TONY FIORELLA

10th COLIN COCORES

In the Open modified class, many of the Pro drivers made their way this year to the KO Grand Prix including last years champion Greg Hodapp. The challengers included Pros such as Barry Baker, Josh Newman, Todd Hodge, Chris Tosolini, David Jun and Andrew Cartwright. It was Josh Newman with amazing consistency that held the TQ spot through out all four rounds of qualifying. In the first A-main, it was Tamiya/Reedy driver David Jun taking the lead after a rare mistake by Newman in the “kink”. Jun was challenged by fellow Tamiya driver Andrew Cartwright but managed to hold on for the win. In the second main, it would be Newman and Rod Canare who would fight for the win. Canare pressured Newman for most of the race but it would be Newman finishing first, Canare second and Tosolini in third. The final main would see an intense four way battle between Newman, Jun, Tosolini and Baker. Baker would go on the win the third main followed by Jun and Tosolini. The combined finishes put David Jun as the overall winner with Newman and Tosolini in 2nd and 3rd respectively.

1st DAVID JUN

2nd JOSH NEWMAN

3rd CHRIS TOSOLINI

4th ANDREW CARTWRIGHT

5th BARRY BAKER

6th TODD HODGE

7th ROD CANARE

8th GREG HODAPP

9th CHARLIE SUANGKA

10th STEVE WEISS

Once again, KO PROPO GP proved to be a great event where racers could compete in a competitive yet fun atmosphere. Special thanks to all the sponsors: Associated Electric, Team Losi, RC America/X-Ray, Yokomo, Honda Factory Performance and of course, Tamiya America and KO PROPO for making this event possible.